FELIX VERDEJO / NONITO DONAIRE
FIGHT WEEK QUOTES & PHOTOS
TUESDAY EDITION
Verdejo and Donaire Headline Championship Card
Televised Live from Roberto Clemente Coliseum on
“MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout on truTV”
This Friday! December 11, at 10 P.M. ET/PT
Live on truTV
All photos by Peter Amador/Top Rank
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (December 8, 2015) — It’s fight week for the boxing gem of Puerto Rico, undefeated Top-Five world-rated lightweight contender, FELIX “El Diamante” VERDEJO, and former five-division world champion and 2012 Fighter of the Year, NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE!.
Both will headline, in separate title bouts, the year-end finale of MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout on truTV, which will be televised LIVE from Roberto Clemente Coliseum This Friday! December 11, on truTV, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT . The live boxing series is presented by truTV and Top Rank® and produced in association with HBO Sports®.
Verdejo (18-0, 13 KOs), from San Juan, will be making his homecoming a 10-round defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Latino lightweight title against Josenilson Dos Santos (25-3, 15 KOs), of Sao Paulo, Brasil, and Donaire (35-3, 23 KOs), from General Santos City, Philippines, who is on the cusp of another world title shot, will be challenging WBO International junior featherweight champion and No. 1 world-rated contender Cesar Juarez (17-3, 13 KOs), of Mexico City, in a 12-round rumble.
The four warriors boast a combined record of 95-9 (64 KOs) — a winning ratio of 91%, with 2/3 of their total victories coming by way of knockout.
NONITO DONAIRE
“When I was down on the canvas in the Walters fight I thought to myself, ‘this is a blessing.’ It was a blessing because I had lost my way, not giving boxing the respect it deserves. I was searching for something. I was unsatisfied. I went home and re-dedicated myself to the sport. I worked harder in the gym. I got out bed early in the mornings and did my running. I went to a Tony Robbins seminar for motivation and then read the book, The Power of Habits.
“My opponent is a tough guy and he is hungry like a wolf. My job is to beat the wolf. He’s actually ranked higher than me. He is No. 1 and I am No. 2.
“I must win on Friday night. I am out of setbacks.
“I feel like I am 21 again. My speed has increased. I can feel my power is much stronger. My happiness is back. I had a great camp.
“But I know what must be done.
“I must win.”
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FELIX VERDEJO
“It was Felix “Tito” Trinidad who inspired me when I was a very young fighter. He has given me a lot of advice. We are friends and I hope Tito comes to the fight on Friday night.
“I have no pain in my hand. I feel great. I like to feel 100 percent when I get into the ring, so I waited until my hand was completely healed for this fight.
“I feel comfortable at 135 pounds and do not have a problem making that weight. I can make 130 pounds if my promoter Top Rank asks.
“This is a big fight card and I am in the main event. I think of all the sacrifices me and our team made to get here. All of the hard work in the gym has paid off.”
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